Lou Orlando
WEST ORANGE, N.J. — The New York Sirens enjoyed an electrifying 6-2 win over the Ottawa Charge in front of a team-record 8,264 fans Sunday. But it’s back to business as usual at practice.
New York readies for a Takeover Tour matchup this Sunday against the Minnesota Frost in Denver — the start of a four-game road stretch to close out March.
The Sirens snapped a five-game losing streak with their win over Ottawa, leaping back into a playoff spot in the process. New York can’t afford to take their foot off the gas, though. At 27 points (8-0-3-8), the Sirens sit fourth overall, just above the playoff cutline; the Charge (26 points) and the Toronto Sceptres (25 points) trail closely behind.
Ottawa and Toronto are both in action this weekend. New York is winless (0-0-1-1) against Minnesota in 2025-26, and could fall back out of a playoff spot with a regulation loss Sunday.
Greg Fargo reflects on ‘true home-ice advantage’ against Ottawa
New York topped its previous home attendance record by more than 3,000 on Sunday. Sirens fans packed both sides of the lower bowl, and even populated sections of the upper bowl above the benches.
“Normally, you’re standing on the bench, and you can hear them behind you,” Sirens coach Greg Fargo explained. “But to be able to see them right in front of you on the other side of the rink, and hear them all game long — it was unique and special. And that wasn’t a game I’ll soon forget, for sure.”
The game provided plenty to cheer about. New York tied a team record with six goals, and star forward Sarah Fillier exploded for two goals and three points.
“It felt like a true home-ice advantage in that game with the crowd behind us,” noted Fargo. “We scored a couple times in the first period, and I think our team really fed off the energy of the crowd. We wanted to perform really well for them.”
New York is averaging 3,768 fans at home games in 2025-26 — a leap of more than 1,000 from 2024-25. Overall, Sirens’ attendance is up 11,184 through 10 home games compared to last season.
“We’re pretty fortunate. We’ve played in front of some really great crowds, and our crowd at home is outstanding,” Fargo said. “But to play in front of that many people at Prudential, I think it was different. It was special.”
New York’s attendance will take another big leap on April 4, when they host the Seattle Torrent in front of a sold-out Madison Square Garden.
Kristyna Kaltounkova loves ‘being the pot-stirrer’
That Prudential Center crowd erupted midway through the second period as Sirens rookie Kristyna Kaltounkova entered the penalty box — the culmination of a scuffle behind the Ottawa net that left her with a double minor for roughing.
It was a vivid demonstration of the crowd’s presence, although New York’s 2025 No. 1 overall pick remembers it less fondly. Kaltounkova’s role in the skirmish was not glaringly excessive, but she paid the price nevertheless. The double minor resulted in an Ottawa power play, giving the Charge a chance to cut the deficit to one. The Sirens killed the penalty, though it did little to diminish Kaltounkova’s disapproval.
The Sirens rookie believes she has a target on her back — both from the opposition and the League’s officials.
“Yeah, I enjoy it from my opponents, but it’s tough when it’s the officials, because you can’t really do much about that,” Kaltounkova said after practice Wednesday. “It kind of puts your teammates at a disadvantage when you barely even do anything sometimes compared to others.”
Kaltounkova leads the PWHL with 39 penalty minutes, 15 of which stem from an illegal check from behind on Anna Wilgren. Kaltounkova was assessed a major penalty and an automatic game misconduct, spurring the Seattle Torrent to a come-from-behind win.
She’s not the only Sirens skater among the League leaders in penalty minutes — teammates Taylor Girard (34) and Micah Zandee-Hart (29) rank second and third overall, respectively. But it’s not hard to see why opponents and officials alike might be on high-alert when Kaltounkova is on the ice. The 5-foot-9 forward plays with a decided physical edge, and she’s more than willing to use that physicality after the whistle as well.
Kaltounkova carries an extensive penalty history dating back to her NCAA career at Colgate University. In three of her five seasons with the Raiders, Kaltounkova finished in the top five nationally in penalties; she ranked third in 2022-23 and 2024-25.
And she doesn’t seem particularly eager to change her signature play style.
“So yeah, it for sure kind of stinks when it comes to the officials,” said Kaltounkova. “But again, I love being kind of the pot-stirrer at times against the opponent.”
Kaltounkova embracing added ‘responsibility’ with shift to center
Fargo is no stranger to juggling his forward lines. The latest iteration included a noteworthy switch down the middle, with Kaltounkova sliding over to center for New York’s last two games.
“Kalty’s done a great job — at center, at wing, I think there’s positives to both,” Fargo said last Thursday following a 1-0 loss to the Boston Fleet. “She’s proven to be one of our more responsible centers in our own zone. And that’s been a big thing.”
Fargo coached Kaltounkova at Colgate for four seasons from 2020 to 2024. She primarily played center with the Raiders, although she admitted the task is more of an adjustment in the PWHL.
“Oh yeah, it’s definitely a lot more skating, even from college,” Kaltounkova said Wednesday. “But I just played center at the Olympics for two weeks. So I don’t know, it doesn’t matter where I play. I just always try and do my best, be at my best, and make an impact for my teammates.”
The Czech native played five games at center at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics in February. She notched two points (one goal, one assist) and was a minus-two as Team Czechia got eliminated in the qualifying round.
Kaltounkova centered Girard and rookie forward Anne Cherkowski last Thursday against Boston, and Fargo kept the threesome together Sunday against Ottawa. Kaltounkova didn’t record a point in the high-powered rout, but she was on the ice when Cherkowski set up Girard for her second tally of the game.
The shift doesn’t change much for Kaltounkova’s offensive approach, but she was quick to embrace the added responsibility on defense.
“Yeah, it’s mostly just in the D zone. I just think maybe there’s a little more responsibility with playing center, just making sure that you’re always back,” explained Kaltounkova. “I love my line, it doesn’t matter who’s the first one back, we just fill in for each other. But I just think the mindset of like, ‘you’re center, you’ve got to be a little more mindful of breakouts and maybe backtracks.'”
Fargo gave Kaltounkova a two-game stint at center earlier in the season, though he quickly pivoted after the rookie went 1-for-10 in the face-off dot against the Montreal Victoire on Jan. 2. Kaltounkova is 11-for-22 (50.0 percent) on face-offs since returning to center on March 5, and Fargo seems content to give her a longer leash this time around.
“It’s just like, how can we spend the least amount of time in our own zone?” Fargo rationalized last Thursday. “Having her there, I just think it makes us really strong down the middle, which helps our break out [and] allows us to play where we want to play.”
Injury updates: Casey O’Brien day-to-day after scary hit
By the end of the third period Sunday, New York was two forwards short. Third-year winger Paetyn Levis exited late in the second period after taking a Sarah Fillier shot to the face on an offensive-zone face-off; she did not return for the final frame.
At 13:37 of the third period, Casey O’Brien headed off to the locker room after a boarding penalty by Charge forward Kateřina Mrázová sent New York’s rookie center headfirst into the halfwall.
Levis was a full-go at practice and is expected to dress Sunday against Minnesota. O’Brien’s status is less certain. The 2025 No. 3 overall pick did not skate at practice Wednesday; she is day-to-day with an upper-body injury, per Fargo.
Rookie goalie Callie Shanahan was also a non-participant at practice after being scratched against Boston and Ottawa last week. She is listed day-to-day with a lower-body injury.
With O’Brien sidelined at practice, Kayla Vespa was promoted to center on the third line. Kaltounkova and Kristin O’Neill could take on larger roles down the middle if O’Brien does not dress against Minnesota.
